Linear compressor discharge valves

Abstract

The invention relates to a linear compressor discharge valve. The valve comprises a valve body having a first layer of composite material, wherein the composite material of the first layer comprises polyaryletherketone and reinforcement filaments that are aligned with an axis of the first layer. The valve further comprises a second layer of composite material overlying the first layer of composite material. The composite material of the second layer comprises polyaryletherketone and reinforcement filaments that are aligned with an axis of the second layer. The axis of the second layer forms an angle of greater than 0 to less than 180° with the axis of the first layer.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A linear compressor discharge valve comprising:
 a valve body comprising: 
 a first layer of composite material, wherein the composite material of the first layer comprises polyaryletherketone and reinforcement filaments that are aligned with an axis of the first layer, and 
 a second layer of composite material overlying the first layer of composite material, wherein the composite material of the second layer comprises polyaryletherketone and reinforcement filaments that are aligned with an axis of the second layer, wherein the axis of the second layer forms an angle of greater than 0 to less than 180° with the axis of the first layer, 
 wherein the composite material of the first layer and/or the composite material of the second layer comprises 40 to 70 vol % of reinforcement filament. 
 
     
     
       2. The valve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the composite material of the first layer and/or the composite material of the second layer comprises 55 to 65 vol % of reinforcement filament. 
     
     
       3. The valve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the composite material of first layer and/or the composite material of the second layer comprises a polyaryletherketone having a Tg of at least 140 degrees C. 
     
     
       4. The valve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the composite material of first layer and/or the composite material of the second layer comprises a polyaryletherketone selected from at least one of polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherketone (PEK), polyetherketoneetherketoneketone (PEKEKK). 
     
     
       5. The valve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the polyaryletherketone of the composite material of first layer is the same as the polyaryletherketone of the composite material of the second layer. 
     
     
       6. The valve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the composite material of the first layer and/or the composite material of the second layer comprises reinforcement filaments formed from carbon fibre. 
     
     
       7. The valve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the composite material of the first layer and/or the composite material of the second layer comprises polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and reinforcement filaments formed from carbon fibre; and wherein the amount of carbon fibre in the composite material is 55 to 65 vol %. 
     
     
       8. The valve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the composite material of the first layer and/or the composite material of the second layer comprises polyetherketone (PEK) and reinforcement filaments formed from carbon fibre; and wherein the amount of carbon fibre in the composite material is 55 to 65 vol %. 
     
     
       9. The valve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first layer of composite material is formed from at least one strip of tape of the composite material, wherein the reinforcement filaments of each strip of tape are aligned with the longitudinal axis of each strip of tape. 
     
     
       10. The valve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second layer of composite material is formed from at least one strip of tape of the composite material, wherein the reinforcement filaments of each strip of tape are aligned with the longitudinal axis of each strip of tape. 
     
     
       11. The valve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the valve body comprises more than two layers of composite material. 
     
     
       12. The valve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the layers of composite material are formed from the same composite material. 
     
     
       13. The valve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the axis of the second layer forms an angle of greater than 0 to ≤90° with the axis of the first layer. 
     
     
       14. The valve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the axis of the second layer forms an angle of greater than 0 to ≤45° with the axis of the first layer. 
     
     
       15. The valve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein valve body is formed by compression moulding the layers of composite material. 
     
     
       16. The valve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the valve body is disc-shaped. 
     
     
       17. A linear compressor comprising a valve as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
       18. A climatization container comprising a linear compressor as claimed in  claim 17 . 
     
     
       19. The climatization container as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the climatization container comprises a refrigerator or freezer.